Folks are extra conscious of their protein intake these days. You can find everything from cold foam to popcorn infused with the stuff at the supermarket. But while there are endless unexpected ways to get your daily protein and fiber, nothing beats the simplicity of meat, whole grains and a range of fresh produce. Enter Chipotle’s new High Protein Menu, which launched in the U.S. and Canada on December 23. It features six new items, including bowls, a burrito, a salad and Protein Cups (a.k.a. four-ounce servings of chicken or steak), that are all packed with high-quality ingredients that’ll keep you full for the long haul. I tasted the entire lineup to find out what’s worth the spend.
The essentials
I wanted to start with the basics to get a feel for the menu. That meant kicking my meal off with the Double High Protein Bowl (760 calories, 81g protein, 11g fiber; $13.15, prices may vary by location). Loaded with double adobo chicken, light white rice, black beans, fajita veggies, fresh tomato salsa, and Monterey Jack cheese (it’s supposed to get double romaine lettuce as well, but they forgot to add it), the bowl was surprisingly light and refreshing for how satiating it was. I really enjoyed the freshness of the salsa; the tomatoes were firm and the red onion added a sharp edge. While I’m not used to having so little rice, there was still enough that it felt like a regular Chipotle bowl, not diet food.
Next, I dug into the High Protein-High Fiber Bowl (540 calories, 46g protein, 14g fiber, $9.35), which comes with one portion of adobo chicken, light brown rice, black beans, fajita veggies, roasted chili-corn salsa, fresh tomato salsa and romaine. I was so grateful for the corn; the kernels were just sweet enough, very tender-crisp and colorful. I normally don’t order lettuce on my bowls, but I liked its light, crisp texture and how it contrasted the succulence of the meat.
Finally, there was the Double High Protein Burrito (840 calories, 79g protein, 6g fiber, $13.15), which was mistakenly built for me as a bowl. It had all the ingredients of the Double High Protein Bowl, minus the rice and beans. I tasted the oregano-forward seasoning on the fajita veggies most in this Chipotle high-protein menu item. If it were given to me as a burrito, I certainly would’ve missed the rice. However, if you want to keep the carbs low, this is a sturdy, satiating handheld that will check all your boxes.
Something lighter
To fill up on less overall, turn to the High Protein-Low Calorie Salad (470 calories, 36g protein, 10g fiber, $12.30), piled high with adobo chicken, supergreens lettuce mix, fajita veggies, fresh tomato salsa and guacamole. As someone who orders sour cream ten out of ten times at Chipotle, I appreciated the creamy, buttery richness of the guac. It made this salad feel more indulgent, despite not having rice or cheese. It was certainly the “healthiest” of the lot, but the meat was still plentiful and no doubt the main sell.
There’s also the Adobo Chicken Taco (190 calories, 15g protein, $3.50), a soft flour tortilla filled with adobo chicken, fajita veggies, fresh tomato salsa, Monterey Jack cheese and lettuce.
I will die on the hill that one of Chipotle’s best items is its flour tortilla—it’s ridiculously pliable, soft, stretchy and durable. I love its deeply chewy, borderline sticky texture. While the fajita veggies and tomato salsa turned the tortilla soggy pretty quickly, two tacos (or honestly, even one with a side) would be enough to hold me over as a meal. If you want to fill up for less than $4 at Chipotle—or don’t feel like committing to a whole burrito or bowl—this is a stellar option.
Protein Cups have DIY potential
Most interesting to me was the High Protein Cup, a four-ounce serving of freshly grilled, hand-cut adobo chicken or steak (180 calories, 32g protein, $3.80 for chicken; 150 calories, 21g protein, $5.80 for steak). I love how low the price point is for how substantial the cup’s contents are, and that guests can order one of these to supplement a salad or grain they made at home. The chicken was moist and thoroughly seasoned, boasting a smoky, slightly charred exterior and medium heat. The steak, which was a bit more expensive and spicy than the chicken, was supremely tender and deeply marinated. Historically, I prefer Chipotle’s steak, but the chicken was surprisingly flavorful compared to the last time I had it, and I preferred its texture to the beef, which was almost too soft.
Is the Chipotle high-protein menu worth it?
Yes! It’s not too far a departure from the menu items you likely already customize yourself. The curated bowls and handhelds do the work for you with macros and nutrition in mind. I feel the Double High Protein Bowl, the Adobo Chicken Taco and the chicken High Protein Cup are the best options of the collection. They’re filling and good for you without feeling like #healthfood, and the taco and the cups are relatively affordable to boot. My main critique was that I felt the menu items could use a condiment, as none of them came with sour cream. I’m surprised none of them are built with green or red salsa either, although I’m sure you can request it.